Ovale

Ovale is a term meaning oval or egg-shaped used in several Romance languages, including Italian and French. It derives from the Latin ovalis, and in many contexts it functions as both an adjective and a noun to denote an oval form. In English, the corresponding everyday term is oval.

In geometry and everyday language, ovale describes a closed, rounded shape that resembles an ellipse or an elongated circle. The exact mathematical definition of oval is informal and varies by context, but the general sense is a shape that is curved and longer than a perfect circle. Objects described as ovale include tracks, tables, and decorative forms.

In anatomy, foramen ovale is a standard term used for oval openings. There are two well-known uses:

- Foramen ovale in the skull, an oval opening in the sphenoid bone that transmits the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve (and accompanying vessels).

- Foramen ovale in the fetal heart, an opening between the right and left atria that allows blood to bypass the nonfunctional lungs before birth; after birth the opening typically closes, forming the fossa ovalis.

The term also appears in related anatomical names and in languages where the noun or adjective form ovale is used to describe egg-shaped structures or features. Overall, ovale links linguistic usage of the oval shape with specific, named structures in anatomy and common geometric descriptions.